World TeamTennis Releases 2004 Schedule

April 22, 2004 - World TeamTennis (WTT) News Release

NEW YORK (April 22, 2004) – Some of the biggest names in tennis, including Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Monica Seles and Anna Kournikova, will take to the courts during the first week of the 2004 World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League presented by ADT Security Services. The 2004 schedule, which was released by the League this morning, includes 70 matches in ten markets between July 5-25, with the WTT Finals set for Aug. 27-28 at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

Kournikova is the first of the marquee names to hit the court on July 6 when she and her Kansas City teammates head to Mamaroneck, N.Y., to take on the New York Sportimes. Kournikova continues her four-city swing with stops in Schenectady, N.Y. (July 8), and Hartford, Conn. (July 9), before returning to Kansas City for a home appearance on July 10.

AmericaÂ’s top men are also in the spotlight during the first week of play. Agassi, the WTT National Ambassador, returns to Sacramento on July 7 when his Capitals host the St. Louis Aces. For the past two years, Agassi has attracted sold-out crowds for his matches at the CapitalsÂ’ stadium court in the parking lot of Sunrise Mall. Agassi will also make a road appearance in Philadelphia on July 9.

Roddick returns to action for the St. Louis Aces, playing a home match on July 10 at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center where he always plays in front of enthusiastic capacity crowds. His Davis cup teammate Mardy Fish makes his WTT debut for the Hartford FoxForce on July 7 when Hartford travels to take on the New York Sportimes. Fish will also play matches in Hartford on July 8 and in Sacramento on July 11.

The worldÂ’s top doubles tandem of Bob and Mike Bryan return to the League as members of the Newport Beach Breakers. The Bryan Brothers and their Newport Beach teammates will host the defending WTT Champion Delaware Smash on July 10. One of the more interesting match-ups for the 2004 WTT season will be on July 19 when the Bryan Brothers travel to Sacramento to take on the Capitals, who are coached by their father Wayne Bryan. The battle of the Bryans continues the next evening when the Breakers host Sacramento.

Monica Seles also returns to WTT after a two-year break. Seles, the top draft pick of the New York Sportimes, plays her first match on July 8 in Delaware, followed by her home debut on July 9 and a West Coast visit to Newport Beach on July 11.

Week two highlights include the return of rising star Maria Sharapova and tennis legend Martina Navratilova. Sharapova plays two home matches for the Newport Beach Breakers on July 14 and July 17. Navratilova will play six matches for the New York Buzz during the final two weeks of the season.

Patrick Rafter, the top pick in the 2004 draft, makes his WTT debut for the Philadelphia Freedoms on July 21 when Philadelphia hosts the Springfield Lasers. Rafter will also play road matches in Delaware and St. Louis.

The top two teams from the Western and Eastern Conferences advance to the seasonending WTT Championship. Semifinal matches will be played on Friday, August 27, and the WTT Finals will be held on the following day at the USTA National Tennis Center. The winning team will be awarded the King Trophy, named after WTT co-founder Billie Jean King.

League Background

Billie Jean King and Larry King originated World TeamTennis and its unique genderequity team concept in the early 70s. The format used for a WTT Pro League match features teams comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Each match consists of five sets, with one set each of men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles. The WTT Pro League is presented by ADT Security Services. Other official WTT Pro League sponsors include Advanta, Gatorade, Head/Penn Racquet Sports (official ball) and Wilson Racquet Sports (official racquet). For more information on the WTT Pro League, visit www.WTT.com.

2004 World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League Schedule

Mon. July 5
NY Sportimes @ Philadelphia
NY Buzz @ Delaware
Springfield @ Newport Beach
Tues. July 6
Philadelphia @ NY Buzz
Kansas City @ NY Sportimes (AK)
St. Louis @ Newport Beach
Springfield @ Sacramento
Wed. July 7
Delaware @ NY Buzz
Hartford @ NY Sportimes (MF)
St. Louis @ Sacramento (AA)
Thurs. July 8
Kansas City @ NY Buzz (AK)
Philadelphia @ Hartford (MF)
NY Sportimes @ Delaware (MS)
Newport Beach @ Springfield
Fri. July 9
Kansas City @ Hartford (AK)
NY Buzz @ NY Sportimes (MS)
Sacramento @ Philadelphia (AA)
Springfield @ St. Louis
Sat. July 10
Sacramento @ St. Louis (AR)
Philadelphia @ Kansas City (AK)
Delaware @ Newport Beach (BB)
Sun. July 11
St. Louis @ Springfield
NY Sportimes @ Newport Beach (MS)
Hartford @ Sacramento (MF)
Mon. July 12
Springfield @ NY Buzz
Philadelphia @ Delaware
Tues. July 13
Hartford @ Philadelphia
Springfield @ Delaware
Kansas City @ St. Louis
Newport Beach @ Sacramento
Wed. July 14
NY Sportimes @ Hartford
Delaware @ Kansas City
Sacramento @ Newport Beach (MSH)
Thurs. July 15
NY Buzz @ Philadelphia (MN)
NY Sportimes @ Springfield
Fri. July 16
Delaware @ NY Buzz
Newport Beach @ St. Louis
Sacramento @ Kansas City
Sat. July 17
NY Buzz @ NY Sportimes (MN)
Delaware @ Philadelphia
Sacramento @ Springfield
Hartford @ St. Louis
Kansas City @ Newport Beach (MSH)
Sun. July 18
St. Louis @ Hartford
Kansas City @ Sacramento
Mon. July 19
NY Sportimes @ NY Buzz
Hartford @ Philadelphia
St. Louis @ Delaware
Newport Beach @ Sacramento (BB)
Tues. July 20
Delaware @ NY Sportimes
St. Louis @ Springfield
Sacramento @ Newport Beach (BB)
Wed. July 21
Hartford @ NY Buzz (MN)
Springfield @ Philadelphia (PR)
Newport Beach @ Kansas City
Thurs. July 22
NY Sportimes @ Hartford
Philadelphia @ Delaware (PR)
NY Buzz @ St. Louis (MN)
Sacramento @ Kansas City
Fri. July 23
Philadelphia @ NY Sportimes
Hartford @ Delaware
NY Buzz @ Springfield (MN)
St. Louis @ Kansas City
Sat. July 24
Delaware @ Hartford
Newport Beach @ NY Sportimes (BB)
Philadelphia @ St. Louis (PR)
Springfield @ Kansas City
Sun. July 25
Newport Beach @ Hartford
Kansas City @ Springfield
NY Buzz @ Sacramento (MN)

FEATURED PLAYERS
AA = Andre Agassi (Sacramento Capitals)
AK = Anna Kournikova (Kansas City Explorers)
AR = Andy Roddick (St. Louis Aces)
BB = Mike & Bob Bryan (Newport Beach Breakers)
MF = Mardy Fish (Hartford FoxForce)
MN = Martina Navratilova (NY Buzz)
MS = Monica Seles (New York Sportimes)
MSH = Maria Sharapova (Newport Beach Breakers)
PR = Patrick Rafter (Philadelphia Freedoms)

Western Conference
Kansas City Explorers .......................................Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Newport Beach Breakers...................................Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
Sacramento Capitals ..........................................Sunrise Mall in Sacramento, Calif.
St. Louis Aces ...................................................Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Springfield Lasers .............................................Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo.

Eastern Conference
Delaware Smash ...............................................AstraZeneca Tennis Facility in Wilmington, Del.
Hartford FoxForce.............................................Blue Fox Run Golf Course in Avon, Conn.
New York Sportimes .........................................Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
New York Buzz.................................................MVP Tennis Stadium, Central Park in Schenectady, N.Y.
Philadelphia Freedoms...................................Cabrini College in Radnor, Pa.

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